Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Director Clarence Fok's Special ID Heads To DVD And Blu-ray On May 13 Courtesy Of Well Go U.S.A.

Hong Kong action cinema
is maturing.Perhaps it is the
influence of Western filmmaking … perhaps the filmmakers themselves have
matured and are more proficient at the art of cinematic storytelling.

Twenty years ago director
Clarence Fok’s latest thriller starring Donnie Yen, Special ID, would have
been simply one of those “chop-socky” endeavors complete with endless fight
sequences, bad dialog and a likely incoherent plotline.

That was then, this is
now.The contemporary action films
coming out of China these days (as opposed to the historical epics) are more
nuanced … story and acting are as important as the fight “set pieces” — the
characters even speak lines of dialog that make sense (and drive the story
forward).

For purists, who are
expecting nothing more than 90 minutes worth of kung fu combat, they need to
come to the realization that Bruce Lee is dead.

In Special ID, due out on
both DVD and Blu-ray on May 13 from Well Go U.S.A., action star Donnie Yen (IP
Man, Bodyguards and Assassins, Painted Skin, Flash Point, etc.) plays
Chen Zilong, an uncover cop who may be close to going over to the dark
side.He’s so into his role as a triad
thug that his boss (played Ronald Cheng) has grown worried … maybe it’s time to
bring him out.

That opportunity arrives
when a former gangland “friend” named Sunny (Andy On) takes to whacking
mainland triad associates.Not only do
the police want him to check things out, but ironically so do his current mob
friends — they view the power-hungry Sunny as a threat.

Into this volatile mix
comes Zilong’s new partner (for the case) Fang Jing (Tian Jing — Police
Story 2013, The Warring States), a by-the-rules beauty who finds her
partner’s unorthodox methods of police work to be more than disturbing.And his look, demeanor and “friends” even
more so.Surviving this case will
require speed, cunning … and trust!